I have really been excited to tell anyone about this book..In August I read one of my favourite books. Ever.
It had the science of a Michael Creighton. (When I read his book JURASSIC PARK, his idea of extracting dinosaur DNA from a mosquito in amber? It made sense.)
It has the suspense of a John Grisham. (Can hardly put some of them down. Although his endings are anti climactic.)
And it is a great family saga book. (Put your own favourite author here.)
AND IT IS ALL TRUE!
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, was written by Rebecca Skloot.
The story is a compelling one. In the early 1950s a poor black woman died of cancer at Johns Hopkins.
The hospital lab discovered that her cervical cells remarkably reproduced. Her cells have since been of great scientific value.
I don't want to tell too much, but we learn her story, and that of her family.
We learn of the medical impact she has had. I kept waiting for the science part to become boring, over my head or just too much, but that never happened. I read this book in 24 hours.
In reading reviews (before reading this book), some readers commented on the author seeming to have an agenda, or trying to use one sides point of view. I did not find that to be true. It felt very balanced to me. One of my new favourite books. I highly recommend it. (If you read it, I would love to discuss it with you.)
One sad note. I heard that OPRAH was going to introduce a new BOOK CLUB book on her show. I never watch OPRAH, but I was SURE it was going to be this book. (After all, it reads like a novel - and is TRUE.) I was so disappointed it was not this book. :(
FORD COUNTY by John Grisham
This is a book of short stories. Although I love his lawyer mysteries, this one really did not do much for me. Although there is a funny story about it. Leslie put it on hold for me at the library. I was 17 on the list. Then, as she was leaving the library she saw it in the "For Sale" area. $2.00. Anyone want this book?
THE RETURN JOURNEY by Maeve Binchy
I was looking forward to this after really enjoying TARA ROAD by the same author. Turned out it was a book of short stories. Did not do much for me. I don't think I like short stories.
WALTZING TO A DIFFERENT STRUMMER by Tom Plummer
This was a borrowed book. It is a "how to fully live your life" book. It had some good things. It was o.k.
(I wonder if I am too picky?)
Books "in my stack".
44 Scotland Street
The Right Stuff
Mornings on Horseback (about Theodore Roosevelt)
Posts
October 2013
10 years ago
2 comments:
I am doing research for my university paper, thanks for your useful points, now I am acting on a sudden impulse.
- Laura
It was actually only a dollar and the library didn't even have them in processing yet. Over and over she told me she had the John Grisham book and i wanted to yell at her that she had the children's john Grisham but I wanted it to be a surprise and it was, after the disappointment in realizing her mistake. I know what I'm doing.
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